Paris, Switzerland and Munich with Tim

The itinerary is the starting point to your tour, but it’s not set in stone. Your group leader may make changes leading up to departure.

Day 1, Tuesday July 5: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2, Wednesday July 6: Paris

Arrive in Paris and meet your ACIS Tour Manager Tim who will take you into the city and introduce you to one of the most famous avenues in the world with a walking tour down the Champs-Élysées, which unites the Tuileries Garden with the Arc de Triomphe. Then get settled at your hotel and enjoy your first dinner of the trip. (D)

Day 3, Thursday July 7: Paris

Your day begins with a guided sightseeing tour that takes you past some of the most famous attractions in Paris. Your expert local guide will show you the iconic Eiffel Tower, Napoleon's final resting place at Les Invalides and the historic Place de la Concorde. Then enjoy a guided visit inside the Musée d'Orsay, a beautiful Beaux-Arts former railway station now housing one of the world's top Impressionist art collections that includes works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet and Van Gogh. After time for lunch in the neighborhood around Notre Dame (currently undergoing a major rebuild after the fire of 2019), enjoy a guided walking tour of Le Marais, a historic yet trendy Parisian neighborhood, exploring the best of this hip and stylish area. In the evening, see the “City of Light” from a totally different perspective with a boat cruise on the Seine. (B,D)

Day 4, Friday July 8: Paris

This morning tap into your inner artist with a Paint Paris painting lesson and walking tour of Montmartre. As you explore this artistic haven—once the haunt of luminaries like Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Claude Monet—a local artist explains the area's history and instructs you in painting techniques important to French art history for capturing its streets and buildings. You'll have time to find lunch in Montmartre, perhaps around the Place du Tertre. Then transfer to Quartier de l'Opéra, Paris's 9th arrondissement, to see the imposing Palais Garnier and enjoy time to explore this fashionable and culturally-rich area at your own pace. For dinner, you'll receive restaurant vouchers along with insider suggestions about where to dine with locals at neighborhood bistros. (B,D)

Day 5, Saturday July 9: Engelberg

Journey on the fastest train in Europe, the high-speed TGV, to Lausanne, Switzerland. Drive first to Broc for a visit to Maison Cailler chocolate factory. The aroma alone will make you melt as you tour the facility, learning about the history of chocolate, seeing the ingredients used and sampling some of the flavors. Then continue to the cozy lakeside town of Brienz to stretch your legs and enjoy the stunning scenery. You'll arrive in the Alpine town of Engelberg in time for dinner tonight. (B,D)

Day 6, Sunday July 10: Engelberg

Conquer the Alps today. This morning ascend 7,000 feet by cable car and the world's steepest cog railway to the breathtaking heights of Mount Pilatus. In the afternoon, explore Lucerne and take in the Altstadt (Old Town), Lion Monument and famous Chapel Bridge. Later in the evening, travel up into the Alps again for a special Alpine Hut dinner along with traditional Swiss games and activities. (B,D)

Day 7, Monday July 11: Munich

Leaving Switzerland, we stop in Vaduz for views of this capital city of tiny Liechtenstein, then continue to Neuschwanstein. King Ludwig's fairy tale castle is literally the stuff of legends (and Disney dreams). The famous castle, with its many turrets and towers was opened to the public in 1886 and clings to the top of the surrounding cliffs. You may want to linger in this magical place, but Munich, the capital of Bavaria, beckons this evening. (B,D)

Day 8, Tuesday July 12: Munich

In the morning we head to the somber Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial. This former prison camp was technically not one of the “death camps” but is still a vivid reminder of Nazi atrocities during World War II. Return to Munich with time to find lunch around the lively and colorful Viktualienmarkt food and flower market. Then learn more about Munich with an expertly-guided tour showing you sights from the historic Marienplatz with its famed Glockenspiel to the hi-tech BMW World, a showcase devoted to the history and innovative technology of these world-famous cars, sited next to Munich's Olympic stadium. Tonight's dinner is at an iconic restaurant, steeped in history since its establishment in 1589—Hofbräuhaus. (B,D)

Day 9, Wednesday July 13: Munich

Today begins with a guided visit to Alte Pinakothek, one of the world's oldest art museums and noted for its collection of 14th to 18th century works by the Old European Masters. Later you'll discover Munich's hidden gems during a bike tour of unique neighborhoods and other off-the-beaten-path sights. Pedal down historic old streets, peek into delightful courtyards, ride along the city's river and explore the popular 910-acre Englischer Garten, one of the world's largest urban public parks complete with surfers on an arm of the River Isar. This evening we'll celebrate our wonderful week together with a traditional German dinner at the Ratskeller. (B,D)

Day 10, Thursday July 14: Departure

Depart for the USA. (B)